Liverpool fans will wake up this morning to find themselves still behind Merseyside rivals Everton in the Premier League table. Although Rafael Benitez had claimed that the off-field problems were bringing the squad closer together, Setanta report that captain Steven Gerrard has contradicted his manager’s statement, claiming the squabble over the club’s ownership and the current manager’s future is affecting the team on the pitch.
“It’s not just this week, it’s been going on for some time now,” he said of the conduct of Liverpool’s co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillet.
“It’s certainly not helping the players, I’ve got to be careful about what I say on the situation.
“But it’s certainly not helping the team.
“We know what’s going on; as players you try to do your job on the pitch and put it to the back of your mind but sometimes it’s impossible when it’s every day.”
Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa means they’ve won just four of their eleven league matches at Anfield this season. After Hicks and Gillett took over, it was thought the club’s ambitions would heighten as a result due to increased spending. Now it appears the issues in the boardroom are threatening Pool’s place in the top four of the Premier League.